Thread: Effectiveness of security cameras

Acquaintance in South Africa had all the wheels off his truck AND trailer stolen from a compound: 10 foot concrete brick wall, broken bottles set into the top, three layers of insulated barbed wire above that, running mains through it (tut tut), and still all gone. Dogs poisoned, big layers of old carpet over all the defences, wooden ladders, man operated home made crane, etc etc for the heavy stuff. (late 1990's).

Cameras will only catch the dumb ones.

Originally Posted by tac a1

If they wear gloves and a balaclava, images aren't worth much unless they are caught nearby with said balaclavas in their possession.

Yet there are thousands and thousands of cctv videos where the offenders glance up at the camera, giving a nice clear shot of their face then continue on.

There's also the added bonus is that modern systems are not passive, i.e. they will fire off an alert which you can act on (e.g. phone mr plod and say they're 2 balaclava guys stealing firearms from my house right now)

I've got 5 of the Ring cameras, have caught 2 x dipshits on my property. One was ID'd by my boss as a known local crack head, boss rang up his slightly less cracked out brother and told him to stay the fuck away or else. The other was a lost bin man looking to collect a bin from next door.

All infra red, motion detect, microphone and speaker, you can daisy chain them so other cameras start recording when the one is tripped, set zones within their fields of view to ignore. They are wifi, so I can monitor them from overseas, yell at the cat to get off the kitchen bench. Battery powered, so I have an extra battery that is on charge, and I swap one out every weekend or two (each lasts a few months). They each have their own alert tone, so I can hear my phone go and know where to go without having to open my phone and destroy my night vision at 2am.

Originally Posted by vulcannz

Yet there are thousands and thousands of cctv videos where the offenders glance up at the camera, giving a nice clear shot of their face then continue on.

There's also the added bonus is that modern systems are not passive, i.e. they will fire off an alert which you can act on (e.g. phone mr plod and say they're 2 balaclava guys stealing firearms from my house right now)

Having dealt with these idiots for years, yep, you're right. Some of them do look into the cameras for the chance at making an appearance on 'Worlds dumbest Burglars' on late night Tv.

However, most of the ones that are professional burglars who target firearms are very aware of camera systems. They do wear 'burglary gears' Ie gloves, overalls, balaclavas etc. They usually do something to disable any security system before the enter the address. They will have planned and have burglary 'tools' with them. Those cordless grinders with the cutting disks are dynamite on anything steel really.

They aren't stupid and are very rarely caught on the job. Most of the time it's because something happens after the fact, like they have a car crash with the stolen guns in the car, or they sell the guns to an undercover cop etc.

There are a hell of a lot more guns stolen than are ever recovered. Where do they all go????? There's lots of theories. F all evidence

Yet they cannot prove these assertions. Unfortunately I suspect that there are still people out there who will buy stolen goods like this.

I can't prove that theory either. But when was the last time someone came around and checked all the serial numbers of your guns??

Never probably. Dont think that I'm stupid enough to think that anyone with stolen guns in their safe would have them in there when the local sheriff came calling to check serial numbers.

Thats just a theory.

I know most guys with firearms are good honest people. Like most things, it only takes a few rotten apples to upset everything

...And even fewer rotten ones on the other side and the whole things a waste of time and energy

Indeed.

My day job entails trying to monitor 200 plus high quality cameras.
I would guess around 5% are actually useful

Originally Posted by muzza

and now his brother nash is back as minister of police it will all be even more true.

I wonder if he will go back to dying his hair so he looks more authoritative.

Originally Posted by tac a1

However, most of the ones that are professional burglars who target firearms are very aware of camera systems. They do wear 'burglary gears' Ie gloves, overalls, balaclavas etc. They usually do something to disable any security system before the enter the address. They will have planned and have burglary 'tools' with them. Those cordless grinders with the cutting disks are dynamite on anything steel really.

Sorry but as I said now the cameras are more active than passive. If you want to take out any of my cameras you need get to the camera, that means an alert will be sent before you have a chance to disable it.

That said, my monitoring system will generate an alert of loss of signal for a camera with the large image received before loss.

That said my cameras all tend to have a bit of overlap.

My expectation is a professional burglar will see my cameras and think 'it's not worth it'. There are plenty of other houses around without our security system (which is cameras/dogs/alarm/mother in law and of course the safe).

Originally Posted by vulcannz

There are plenty of other houses around without our security system (which is cameras/dogs/alarm/mother in law and of course the safe).

I have pretty much the same line up except for the mother in law ( although one of my Great Danes is a bitch if that counts).

Originally Posted by vulcannz

Sorry but as I said now the cameras are more active than passive. If you want to take out any of my cameras you need get to the camera, that means an alert will be sent before you have a chance to disable it.

That said, my monitoring system will generate an alert of loss of signal for a camera with the large image received before loss.

That said my cameras all tend to have a bit of overlap.

My expectation is a professional burglar will see my cameras and think 'it's not worth it'. There are plenty of other houses around without our security system (which is cameras/dogs/alarm/mother in law and of course the safe).

If you have something that they want and they are switched on enough, they will get it, no matter how much you put in their way. The professional ones don't get caught and they do exist in NZ.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Has anyone heard of a gun theft being solved by security camera records ?

Either personal experience or “A mate told me about this …”.

Was the thief convicted ? Was the firearm recovered ?

In reality I doubt it cos all these scumbags need is a baseball cap and a hoodie

Originally Posted by tac a1

If you have something that they want and they are switched on enough, they will get it, no matter how much you put in their way. The professional ones don't get caught and they do exist in NZ.

iagree and as ive often said if they really want it theyll get it ..our job is just to frustrate them in the task in as many ways as possible

One thing that you may be overlooking here, is that with the modern security systems that include notification, if someone does enter your 'space', you will get notified immediately of the intrusion. This gives you options for how to deal with the situation. If you are home, you can respond appropriately. If you are not, you can call the police.
I recommend putting a small uninterrupted power supply on you modem and any network switches to keep them powered up for 10 minutes in case the perp's kill the power to your property in an effort to drop out cameras.